We’re pleased to announce that Dr. Catriona Willoughby has joined the Organic Research Centre this April as our new Soil Science & Agronomy Post-Doctoral Research Associate. Catriona brings a wealth of knowledge and a real passion for understanding the secrets held within our soil.
Catriona’s fascination with soil began during her geography studies, and she’s been digging deeper ever since! She went on to earn a Master’s degree in soil science and sustainability, where she got her hands dirty with fieldwork, even working on cleaning up contaminated land using plants. Her PhD then took her into the world of agriculture, where she explored how different crop rotations affect the soil, nutrients, and overall farm productivity.
Before joining us, Catriona worked as a researcher in sustainable agriculture and even specialised in the important issue of plastic pollution in our soils. This wide-ranging experience gives her a fantastic overview of the challenges and opportunities in managing our land well.
Catriona is excited to be part of the ORC team, saying: “I am dedicated to learning how best to protect the fragile earth beneath our feet, and my work at ORC allows me to pursue this goal alongside like-minded people.” She’s also keen to hear about the latest innovative things farmers are doing to improve their soil.
Catriona’s expertise in soil science and sustainable agriculture will be a great asset as we continue our work in promoting organic and agroecological farming practices. Catriona is working on Feed the Soil and GreenGrass and her research portfolio will grow over the coming months. We know she’ll play a key role in our ongoing research projects.
